Chapter 165

When they arrived in Luoyang, the first to greet them at Changcheon Pavilion was none other than Eulju Jinin.

“Chaeji!”

How much anxiety must have filled the heart of a master waiting for their disciple who had gone on a perilous journey?

Ever since the Jinroe Unit returned a few days ago with news that Changcheon Pavilion and the Wind Chasing Unit would soon arrive, Eulju Jinin’s daily routine had been pacing around Luoyang’s south gate.

Today, too, Eulju Jinin couldn’t stay still, worried if they wouldn’t come or if something had happened on the way. When the familiar faces of Changcheon Pavilion appeared in the distance, Eulju Jinin unleashed their full speed and rushed forward.

“Master!”

Song Chaeji, understanding her master’s feelings, ran toward them as well.

The two embraced. Namgung Woo, watching from behind, thought he should have hurried a bit more and observed the heartwarming scene…

*Slap!*

“Ow! Master!”

“You sneaked off to such places without telling your master! Do you know how worried I was?”

“Ah! M-Master, you were so busy, so I thought I should…”

A master slapping their disciple’s back in broad daylight… It was more of a rare sight than a heartwarming one.

The technique of closing the distance by preemptively setting up a trap to prevent escape was too cruel for Namgung Woo to replicate.

“Captain, shall we just go?”

“…Yeah.”

Changcheon Pavilion passed by the two female Taoist disciples at Luoyang’s south gate, pretending not to notice.

“Ah! Namgung Xia! Help me! Master! That spot you just hit, it hurts…!”

Leaving behind the foolish disciple who had set off on a long journey with just a letter, Changcheon Pavilion entered, no, returned to Luoyang.

“Let’s head to the Paeng Family’s Villa first. After unpacking and resting, the members can rest separately, and it would be best if only the elders and the Southern Wind Unit Leader go to the Martial Alliance.”

“Thank you for the consideration, but to fully settle our relationship with the Martial Alliance, it would be better for everyone to go together.”

“Right. It’s best to avoid any future disputes. Let’s go to the Paeng Family’s Villa to rest and then head to the Martial Alliance.”

“Then, I’ll visit our family’s villa in the meantime. I’m not sure if the Star Net Group Leader is still there, but I need to contact the family first.”

“Shall we follow?”

“No need. There’s no need for all of us to move around together within Luoyang. The Yeongmu Unit Leader has a base in Luoyang, right? Did you buy a house instead of staying at an inn?”

“That’s correct, but before we left, I asked the Moyong Family to handle the disposal. I just need to confirm it.”

“Speaking of which, we should visit the Moyong Family as well. We received something from them, so we should at least pay our respects.”

In the short time it took to pass through the city gates, the plans for Luoyang were set.

The members would rest. Cheok Mu-hong would finalize the base arrangements in Luoyang. Jegal Seon-a would contact her family. Geumshin would manage the members at the Paeng Family’s Villa. The rest of the leadership would report to the Martial Alliance with the current Southern Wind Unit Leader.

‘I’ll visit the Yi Royal Residence separately afterward.’

Just as Namgung Woo was thinking this…

“You’re here!”

“Kyarr!”

“You said it would only take a few days!”

“Grrr!”

“It’s been a whole month!”

“Growl!”

A noblewoman in palace attire, with a sword at her waist that oddly suited her, and a blue-furred creature in her arms.

There was only one woman in Luoyang who could carry such an animal and dress like this.

It wasn’t just Eulju Jinin who had been waiting. Princess Jihyang had also been waiting for Namgung Woo’s return. Not at the south gate, but at the Yi Royal Residence.

Unlike Eulju Jinin, who had waited at the south gate all day, how had Princess Jihyang appeared at such a perfect moment?

The answer lay in the creature she held.

Namgung Woo could almost understand the will behind Cheongdangon’s cries. Though they couldn’t communicate, Cheongdangon was a spirit beast with intelligence equal to humans.

Opening his Upper Dantian, Namgung Woo’s heightened senses automatically translated Cheongdangon’s cries.

‘My so-called master.’

‘Left me behind all this time.’

‘I’ll let it slide just this once!’

That was the gist of it.

Honestly, Namgung Woo knew he had been a bit harsh.

When he had asked to take back Cheongdangon, which he had given as a gift, even Namgung Woo felt embarrassed.

“Well… It took longer than expected due to unforeseen dangers. My apologies.”

Namgung Woo’s overly polite response flustered Princess Jihyang instead.

This wasn’t what she expected. Quickly changing the subject, Princess Jihyang said, “Ahem, well. I anticipated this and prepared some medicine in advance. I’m not sure if it will be enough for everyone behind you, though.”

The medicine wasn’t a miracle cure, but it was sufficient to replenish depleted energy.

Of course, Princess Jihyang hadn’t personally gathered dozens of medicines. She had strongly persuaded Ju Si-yeol to open the Yi Royal Residence’s treasure vault.

Normally, Namgung Woo would have refused, but now, with the need for the Imperial Family’s cooperation, he decided to accept Princess Jihyang’s gesture. After all, human relationships deepen through give and take.

“I will repay this kindness in the future.”

“No need. Compared to saving your life, this is nothing.”

Namgung Woo instructed the unit leaders to distribute the medicines Princess Jihyang had brought. Except for the masters who had achieved the Three Flames Convergence and were unaffected by ordinary elixirs, it seemed the medicines would be just enough.

Watching the Changcheon Pavilion members accept the medicines with smiles, Princess Jihyang inwardly smiled with satisfaction.

‘To catch a general, aim for his horse first. As expected, Uncle’s strategies are on another level.’

Princess Jihyang’s trust in Ju Si-yeol soared in real-time.

As the distribution neared its end, Princess Jihyang made her final retreat.

“It’s not polite to keep you standing here too long. I’ll be waiting. Take your time with your tasks and come to the Yi Royal Residence. I’ve already informed the servants, so no need to send a separate message.”

“Understood.”

“And, I’ll take care of Gon. Make sure to come to the Yi Royal Residence properly to pick him up.”

“Kyarr!”

Cheongdangon’s cry added weight to Princess Jihyang’s words.

The sound, usually cute, now felt particularly annoying to two people. No need to name them.

But given the other party’s status and position, they could only suffer in silence. Still, they didn’t stay completely still. From behind, out of Princess Jihyang’s sight, Paeng Ha-ryeong tugged at Namgung Woo’s sleeve, signaling to hurry.

For Jegal Seon-a, such proactive communication was still difficult.

“Then, I’ll try to visit you by today.”

§

After seeing off the Changcheon Pavilion group, Princess Jihyang glanced to the side and smirked.

“How was it?”

At Princess Jihyang’s confident smile and question, Yang Se-rim’s thought process momentarily short-circuited before returning.

“…Huh?”

“How was it? A considerate woman. You felt it, right?”

“Uh… Well, was that also taught by His Highness?”

“Exactly, Se-rim. Men fall for this kind of thing, they say. A wife who welcomes you back with rabbit-like children after you’ve been out working. It’s the ideal for men.”

Princess Jihyang cooed at Cheongdangon as if it were a baby, making high-pitched sounds.

Yang Se-rim, with her sharp mind, pondered what to say to her master.

‘Am I wrong?’

When it came to martial arts, Yang Se-rim was a novice, not even a third-rate martial artist, just an ordinary passerby.

But compared to her, who had no romantic experience, the advice of Ju Si-yeol, who at least had some experience with women, might be correct.

“You were splendid.”

“Of course. This time, I think it really worked. Hmm. If we do this a few more times, we might even be able to return to the Forbidden City together…”

Princess Jihyang’s voice, half-joking at first, grew more serious.

Though it seemed she was only watching Namgung Woo, Princess Jihyang’s gaze encompassed his surroundings as well.

And she saw the change.

‘It wasn’t just one, but two, huh?’

As they say, even a dog at a schoolhouse can recite poetry after three years. After 18 years in the Forbidden City, one learns to read people’s intentions. Of course, it depends on the person, but Jegal Seon-a was the type whose emotions were almost always on display.

The habit formed from her Resonance Power remained even now, after she had grown and gained control over it.

‘Something happened.’

In fact, without needing the grand experience of the Forbidden City or the habits from Resonance Power, just seeing how Paeng Ha-ryeong treated Jegal Seon-a as an equal was enough to guess her status.

“Se-rim, tell the attendants to clean this up, and we’ll head back a bit later.”

“Where are we going?”

“Hmm… Not anywhere special. There’s something I want to check.”

As she spoke, the location of the Jegal Family’s villa came to Princess Jihyang’s mind.